Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-02-11
AND OLD TINE SONG.

loving story and song:
THE non TAIL MARE"
hnye several times been asked for the
song aud story Of the "Bub- Tail Mare" M
sung the Judge Jones bar banquet. To
ecOnOnize time and labor, ! propose 10
answer through the columns nf the Lcdder
IL you will afford me space to do ii.
lac moral ot the song is that Il lie well
stuck 10 IL as good as the truth, u-el
To think that it had no author and was
never composed, hut that some irrevcrent
fellow Jpt made II up mud sung 1t him
Eel, hut have recently found the song
and some account of il under the tile Of
Border Minslrelsy,'i in very inc edition
of the ppelical works of Sir Walter Scott.
II is there said that ii was immensely pop.
ular with The early registering lawyers OF
the Scottish border.
A young lawyer distinguished for wit,
eloquence and bonhommie, afterwards
Supreme Judge OF Ohio, was the frat to
sing ii west OF the Allegheny Mountains.
More than sixty years ago he found hin-
sell II stranger strapped and in debt for a
hotel bill In Pitlsbnrg. Walking the
streets with solitary quarter in his purse +,
puzzling his brains to find some avenue o.
escape fiom the embarrassing situation, he
saw fellow posting II theatrical bill, and
determined to spend the last shot in the
locker in securing one more night OF fun.
AT the close of the play the manager came
forward aud apologzed to his large audit
ence for his inability to fll the program,
in consequence OF The sudden illness of u
celebrated comic singer. The young law
yer leaped upon the stage and told the
story aud sang the song of "The Bub-Tail
| Mare" ny only he could tell and sing il.
| II took down the audience, and nearly
shock down the house. Flowers and mon
py fell in showers at the feet OF the singer.
| When next morning before he wns dressed
the manager was in his room vnin|y seek
ing to secure him for permanent angage.
| nent.
Fifty years ago the song was prime
favorile with the bench and bar of Ohio.
II ia still sung along the western margin
Of the State. Judge Ilelsley, the genial
president Of the Jones banquet, said they
sing it in the "lioop Pole Region" to the
accompaniment of the frogs. His Honor
probably assucintes frogs with The sone
from lis habit OF taking water or some
thing to wash the frog from his throat
when he sings Il.
Briefly told, the story is that ship
wrecked Frenchman was cast upon a lone
ly beach in an unconscious state. Upon
coming to his senses he shook himself to-
gether aud wandered inland until lie came
TO farm.honse where he waa made vel
come by the farmers wife IN the absance
of her husband lie told her hs story OF
the wreck and the loss of all the passen-
gers and crew, aud that he alone escaped q
grave, and called her attention 10 his for
lorn condition, being wet and perishing
with cold and hunger. She gave him II
jorum CT brandy, built ronang fire, and
prepared him bountiful breakfast
Then, unable to restrain her woman'r
curiosity longer, she inquired his name
his business, aud where he was from
where hound, etc. lie told her in
broken English, that he was from PARIS
She had never heard of Paris, but had
heard much OF Paradise, and was delight
ed to learn that her guest hailed from thai
celestial land. he told him that her dear
first husband hau lived for several year
in paradise; that her second husband wa
a good, industrious fellow, but her hear
was in Paradise with Mike, and didn't th'
stranger know Mike, or hadn't he at leas
heard of her Mike? The honest French
man smelt a rat, and being at the bottom
of fortunes wheel, he humored her bent
as, lead where il would it could not injur'
him. He asked her husbands name. "Ant
sure" she said, "il's Mike Maloney, ant
Mike was a good man 10 me. He lef
me this farm, with horses, cattle, sheep
and pigs, with more than 81 900 IL
money and shure you must know Mix,
in Parsdise?" "Oh, yes, yes, madam,
know Mr., Mike MaIoney very well. HI
is my good neighbor and my very goo,
friend" And ia the dear man well an'
has he everything to make him happy 2
one bon vivant, what you call one jolly
does not get rich. I think he would lik
good horse, a lew hundred dollars i,
money, and good overcoat." 10 dear
Mike, my good man, how | wish coul,
send them TO HIM. / have them all an,
think, sir, of going back 10 Paradise /?
20 yes, madam, / go directly there.
"And would you kindly encumher yonr
self with them for Mikep Eyes, yes
madam, | will be only too happy Il
serve my good friend Maloney." TIL,
horse was saddled, the coat donned, an'
viii, pockets well filled the Frenchmal
rode off en- route for Paradise. Going
up mountain side lie saw a shepher'
tending his sheep, and accosIed hin
with, "Hello. Mr.. Shepherd will yo'
tell one lie for one dollar?" "Yes, in
deed, / will; I've told many shilling
lie." 81 want no little shilling lie.
want a dollar lie, and when You tell hin
you stick to him like ball of wax
Iimeby when one man come here ant
ask ior one man as il on one mare II
this, You tell him / ride upon that rocl
and 30 straight up in the air, and NJ
more come down." "Z,nnda," said III,
shepherd. 81 should say that ia dolla
lie, but I'll tell it and stick to it,.
When the second husband got home h'
found his wife dssolving in happy tear
and 20 grateful to the good Frenclnnl
for an opportunity of doing good tur'
lor poor Mike. Being a good, sensibl
fellow lie found no fault with her ere
dnliiy and generosity, but put off at ono
after the scamp who had swindlrd hel
Coming TO the shepherd he hailed him il
the language of the song, which tells tn
rest of The story. j. NJ. CoFFINDERhY.
Cleveland, Jan. Is, 1887.
o, bonny Shepherd, can you tell mo.
Pray have you seen man riding
With coal black hair on bobtal mare2
Methinks am not far behind him.
Dyes, saw man riding
Which did much confound my wit,
For the man and the marc went up in the nil
And see them yet, and see them yet
o. bonny Shepherd, amt you mistaken?
Methinks You do abuse your wit
Odds, zounds says he, come sit down by me
For see them yet, and see them yet.
When first looked, mine eyes were dim,
But now, mcthinks, see more clear,
In yonder cloud see my mare
As she goes cantering through the air.